"An analysis of fossil jaws belonging to octopuses that lived between 100 million and 72 million years ago shows that these creatures may have been the largest animals in the sea and smart to boot, rivaling sharks and marine reptiles in their powers of predation."
"The findings challenge received wisdom about the role of soft-bodied organisms in marine ecosystems and hint at how large body size and intelligence evolved in the denizens of the ocean realm."
"The new study suggests that mosasaurs had competition from invertebrates, however, indicating a more complex marine food web during the Late Cretaceous."
Fossil analysis reveals that giant octopuses from the Late Cretaceous period were formidable marine predators, potentially larger than known vertebrates. These octopuses, referred to as krakens, possessed advanced predatory skills, challenging the long-held belief that soft-bodied invertebrates were primarily prey. The study indicates that these ancient creatures had a significant role in marine ecosystems, competing with mosasaurs and reshaping our understanding of the evolution of size and intelligence in oceanic species.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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